LONDON - Robin van Persie has emerged as the man to lead Arsenal out of its early-season funk, and the Dutch striker will be a key figure in ensuring its rehabilitation continues in the Champions League at home to Olympiakos on Wednesday.

Van Persie, club skipper in the wake of Cesc Fabregas's exit to Barcelona, scored twice in a 3-0 home victory against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday - a win that helped steady the ship after the club's worst start to a Premier League campaign.

Despite that, there is still a long way to go before the critics disperse, and anything short of victory on Wednesday against a club with an abysmal record in England would offer them more ammunition.

Olympiakos has lost all nine away games against English opposition in Europe, conceding 29 goals in the process and scoring just once - a record that suggests even an Arsenal side in transition should build on its opening draw in Dortmund with a convincing home win.

Van Persie, 28, has scored five goals already this season and Wenger believes the Dutchman, who British media reported on Monday was in no rush to extend his current deal beyond 2013, is now mature enough to lead from the front.

"Robin has matured from the boy who was a little bit emotionally impulsive when he arrived to the guy he is today," Wenger told Arsenal's website.

"It was difficult to predict but he is intelligent, he speaks his mind and you can talk to him as well. He takes advice and overall he has developed very well.

"I think he has a combination of leadership on the pitch. He is technically a super-talent, certainly, and you gain respect from the others. Now he has added the second part, that means speaking his mind."

Reuters

(China Daily 09/28/2011 page24)